Page 17 of Operation: Reckless Angel

“No, all Cameron Woods said was in a few days when she drives away,” Roth said.

“That could be today or next week,” Mother said.

“She’s getting ready to leave soon,” Roth said. “Sooner than next week.”

“We need to figure out where they’re getting the IDs from. There’s nothing we’ve found that indicates they’re the ones stealing them. And Garcia and Smith haven’t found any indications in the dark web that they’re buying them there,” Lambchop said.

Roth could tell something was bothering him. “Why does this matter now? After we catch them selling the identities, won’t the FBI press them to get the info on how they acquired them?”

“It feels like we’re missing something,” Lambchop said. “Why is she using Lisa O’Connor’s name if she has access to other identities? Something isn’t adding up right.”

“Maybe she has several she uses, and this is just the one we’re aware of,” Roth posed.

“Maybe, but why use it at all?” Lambchop asked. “You said you think she’s the one running the business she and her brother are in.”

“Yeah,” Roth agreed.

“She’s not sloppy, and using O’Connor’s name would be sloppy if her ex-husband catches up to her.”

“You think she’s baiting him?” Mother asked.

“Maybe,” Lambchop said. “I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it, but we’re missing something.”

Roth wasn’t sure why Lambchop had requested a meeting with Shepherd. It seemed to him they were on hold until Garcia and Smith got the Woods’ siblings to bite on their dark web inquiry for a new identity. It became clear, though as soon as Lambchop enabled the video meeting and Shepherd and Garcia joined.

“Good instincts, Lambchop,” Shepherd said. “The CIA tried to recruit Briana Woods when she left the army, specifically through an operative by the name of John Rivera.”

“I got into Briana Woods’ cell records from that time. Looks like they had more going on than recruiter and subject,” Garcia said. “There was a personal relationship there for over four months before she showed up on the CIA’s radar.”

“They were involved first,” Mother said.

“Looks like it to me,” Garcia said.

“Where’s Rivera now?” Roth asked. She didn’t act like someone who had a boyfriend. As irrational as he knew it was, he was irked she had a relationship with this CIA recruiter.

“Dead,” Garcia said. “She walked away from the possibility of working for the CIA after he died. And that’s when she went dark.”

“It’s connected,” Lambchop said. “That’s what I needed to know.”

He nodded his head as though he understood everything now. Roth was confused. It may have answered questions for Lambchop, but it caused a lot more for him. Then it occurred to him what Lambchop was thinking. “You think that’s where the identities came from? You think they were CIA covers?”

“Covers or identities to provide to blown assets,” Lambchop said.

“Mason confirms that Rivera would have had access to them,” Shepherd said. “And the CIA creates lists of identities and shell companies as a matter of practice. No one would notice a batch of them missing or being accessed in their database.”

“So, is there really a crime here, then?” Roth asked.

“You’ll find that out soon enough. Your request is approved, Lambchop. I want to be listening in on comms when you go at them. Plan it for after eighteen hundred. I’ll be available then.”

“Thank you, Shep. I’ll coordinate it with Ops.” They disconnected the video meeting and then Lambchop turned to Roth. “I’m not sure if what they’re doing is a crime that should be prosecuted, but it’s not legal either.”

“They have to be making money off it somehow, even though Garcia and the Digital Team haven’t found a direct money trail,” Mother added.

“Yeah, somehow they’re paying for their living expenses,” Roth agreed.

“Getting them for income tax evasion isn’t our thing,” Mother said.

“We need to ensure Briana Woods’ planned departure isn’t today before eighteen hundred. Roth, be ready to move to intercept if it looks like she’s getting ready to go anywhere. And if you can’t delay her, we may need to move sooner than eighteen hundred. We adapt as needed, but when we move, it’s three in the front, two in the back, with one in a car standing by. We go in with a show of force,” Lambchop said. “And we go at Cameron Woods first.”

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